Window in different languages

Window in Different Languages

Discover 'Window' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

Windows have been a significant part of our lives for centuries. They provide us with natural light, fresh air, and a connection to the outside world. But did you know that the word 'window' has been translated into different languages, each with its own unique cultural context?

For instance, in German, a window is called 'Fenster', which comes from an old Northern German word 'vend', meaning 'wind'. In Spanish, a window is 'ventana', which originates from the Latin 'ventus', meaning 'wind' as well. In fact, many languages have similar etymology, reflecting the importance of ventilation in the early history of windows.

Understanding the translation of 'window' in different languages can offer a fascinating glimpse into cultural differences and similarities. For example, in Japanese, a window is 'mado', which also means 'gate' or 'door'. This reflects the traditional Japanese design philosophy of blending indoor and outdoor spaces.

So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or just curious, here are some translations of 'window' in different languages:

Window


Window in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansvenster
The Dutch word "venster" originally referred to a hole in the roof that let out smoke.
Amharicመስኮት
The word “መስኮት” (“window”) also has other meanings such as “a break, an opportunity” and "a chance".
Hausataga
"Taga" can also refer to a place where something is kept or the act of putting something somewhere.
Igbowindo
In Igbo, the word "windo" also refers to a type of bird often seen at windows.
Malagasyvaravarankely
The Malagasy word "varavarankely" can also refer to a hole or opening in a wall or fence.
Nyanja (Chichewa)zenera
The word "zenera" in Chichewa is derived from the Yao word "kusera" which also means "to look through".
Shonahwindo
Hwindo, the Shona word for "window", also refers to holes made by rats, mice and other tiny rodents.
Somalidaaqad
The Somali word "daaqad" is derived from the Arabic word "daqqa" meaning "to knock", as windows were traditionally used to communicate with people outside.
Sesothofensetere
The word "fensetere" is derived from the Portuguese word "janela".
Swahilidirisha
The Swahili word "dirisha" is derived from the Arabic word "dirsh," meaning "sight" or "view."
Xhosaiwindow
The Xhosa word "iwindow" is derived from the Afrikaans word "venster," which itself comes from the Dutch word "venster."
Yorubaferese
In an archaic context, 'ferese' also refers to an air vent, a gap, or an opening.
Zuluiwindi
The word "iwindi" in Zulu comes from the Proto-Bantu root "-windo", which means "opening" or "hole".
Bambarafinɛtiri
Ewefesre
Kinyarwandaidirishya
Lingalafenetre
Lugandaeddirisa
Sepedilefasetere
Twi (Akan)mpoma

Window in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicنافذة او شباك
The word "نافذة" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance" in Arabic.
Hebrewחַלוֹן
The word "חַלוֹן" (window) also means "aperture" or "opening" in Hebrew.
Pashtoکړکۍ
The word "کړکۍ" in Pashto not only means "window" but also refers to a "crack" or "gap".
Arabicنافذة او شباك
The word "نافذة" can also mean "opportunity" or "chance" in Arabic.

Window in Western European Languages

Albaniandritare
The word dritare likely comes from the Latin word directarius, meaning "straight" or "direct". This is because a window allows light to pass through it directly.
Basqueleihoa
Leihoa's root, leiho, originally meant 'passage for light', which later evolved into 'window'.
Catalanfinestra
‘Finestra’ is also the term used in theatre for the opening in the scenery through which the audience observes the action
Croatianprozor
The Croatian word
Danishvindue
"vindue" shares the same Germanic root as "wind" and originally referred to an opening for ventilation.
Dutchvenster
The Dutch word "venster" for window was borrowed from Middle Low German, where it meant "something that can be opened".
Englishwindow
The word
Frenchla fenêtre
The word "fenêtre" in French derives from the Latin word "fenestra," meaning "opening in a wall."
Frisianfinster
Although "finster" means "window" in modern Frisian, in Medieval Frisian, it meant "darkness".
Galicianxanela
"Xanela" is related to words like "channel" and "canal", due to its origin in the Latin word "canalis".
Germanfenster
The German word "Fenster" is derived from the Latin word "fenestra", meaning "opening" or "hole in a wall."
Icelandicglugga
In Old Norse, 'glugga' also meant peephole, a reference to its early form as an opening covered with animal skin or bladder
Irishfuinneog
Fuinneog originates from the Old Irish word "fuinid" meaning "to look out".
Italianfinestra
Finestra shares the same origin with the Latin word
Luxembourgishfënster
The word "Fënster" originally meant "light" or "clear" in Old High German.
Maltesetieqa
Maltese "tieqa" means "hole" in the Arabic dialects of Algeria and Tunisia; in Moroccan "tiqa" means "window, opening" with similar meanings in Hebrew
Norwegianvindu
Originates from the Proto-Germanic *window, originally a noun derived from the verb *wejan- “to blow (of the wind)”
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)janela
"Janela" (window) comes from the Arabic "shannarah" (lattice), which derives from the Latin "fenestra" (opening).
Scots Gaelicuinneag
The Gaelic word for "window" (uinneag) originally meant "eye-hole".
Spanishventana
In Spanish, "ventana" can also refer to the hole in a bullfighting ring's wall where spectators witness the main event.
Swedishfönster
Fönster comes from the Old Norse word 'fjǫnstr' meaning opening, and is cognate to the English word 'fenester'.
Welshffenestr
Ffenestr is a combination of the words 'ffyn' ('threshold') and 'trest' ('place to cross'), referencing its function as a passageway through a wall.

Window in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianакно
The word "акно" in Belarusian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *oknъ, which also means "eye". This reflects the fact that windows were originally small openings in the walls of buildings, through which people could look out.
Bosnianprozor
The Bosnian word 'prozor' has an interesting etymology, meaning 'to gaze' or 'to see through', reflecting its role as a portal to the outside world.
Bulgarianпрозорец
The word "прозорец" derives from the Old Church Slavonic word "прозоръ", meaning "aperture", "hole", or "gap".
Czechokno
In linguistics, okno is also used in Czech as a term meaning aperture of a string instrument.
Estonianaken
Aken is derived from the Proto-Finnic word *äkünä, meaning "an opening in a wall or roof."
Finnishikkuna
The word "ikkuna" in Finnish derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*oknъ", meaning "eye".
Hungarianablak
"Ablak" is also the Hungarian word for "porthole."
Latvianlogs
In Latvian, "logs" comes from the German word "Luke," which also means "hole, trap, cellar, hiding place"
Lithuanianlangas
The word "langas" in Lithuanian is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*leng" meaning "to see" and is related to the English word "look".
Macedonianпрозорец
The word "прозорец" is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word "прозор", meaning "an opening" or "a view".
Polishokno
In Polish, "okno" also refers to an opening, aperture, or gap, such as that found in a wall, roof, or even in clothing.
Romanianfereastră
The Romanian word
Russianокно
The word "окно" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *oknъ, cognate with the Gothic word *augo (window).
Serbianпрозор
The word 'прозор' is derived from the Slavic 'prozir', meaning 'to look through'.
Slovakokno
The word okno in Slovak is a cognate to 'window' in other Germanic and Slavic languages and originally meant 'eye' in Proto-Indo-European.
Slovenianokno
The word okno, meaning "windowpane," may have been formed from ok, which originally stood for the verb "to close"
Ukrainianвікно
"Вікно" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*okno", which also means "eye".

Window in South Asian Languages

Bengaliজানলা
The word "জানলা" originated from the Sanskrit word "जनल" meaning "opening for light or air" and also refers to a "casement" or "lattice"
Gujaratiવિંડો
Derived from Middle English 'windou' and Old English 'windoge' meaning 'a hole allowing air to enter' or 'opening offering a view'.
Hindiखिड़की
The word "खिड़की" may derive from the Middle Persian word "khing" meaning "aperture" or from the Sanskrit word "kiti" meaning "space" or "opening".
Kannadaಕಿಟಕಿ
"ಕಿಟಕಿ" originates from the Sanskrit word "kataka"," meaning "an opening in a wall". It can also refer to the "eye of a needle".
Malayalamജാലകം
In Sanskrit, 'jaala' means 'a net' and 'ka' means 'to do'. 'Jalakam' thus refers to a space covered with a net.
Marathiविंडो
The word "विंडो" (window) in Marathi is derived from the Sanskrit word "वातमुख" (vātamukha), meaning "mouth of the wind" or "opening for the wind".
Nepaliविन्डो
Punjabiਵਿੰਡੋ
The word 'ਵਿੰਡੋ' ('window') in Punjabi has a root in the word 'ਵਾਯੂ' ('air') because it lets air in the house or any other closed place.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)කවුළුව
The Sinhalese word for "window", "කවුළුව", comes from the Sanskrit word "kapata" meaning "doorway".
Tamilஜன்னல்
The word "ஜன்னல்" (window) in Tamil might derive from the Sanskrit word "janala" meaning "opening". It can also refer to a type of classical Tamil lute.
Teluguకిటికీ
"కిటికీ" derives from the Sanskrit word "kitibha" meaning "to split, to break open", and also signifies an opening or hole
Urduونڈو
The term "ونڈو" in Urdu is originally derived from the Latin word "ventus", meaning "wind".

Window in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)窗口
In traditional Chinese architecture, "窗口" (window) could also mean an opening in a wall designed to let in the wind and light, without the glass panes commonly associated with windows today.
Chinese (Traditional)窗口
The character "窗" in "窗口" originally referred to a hole in a wall for ventilation or archery.
Japanese
The character used in this word's original kanji also means "eye"
Korean창문
In Old Korean, "창문" (window) referred to an opening in a roof used to release smoke rather than the wall openings we associate with windows today.
Mongolianцонх
The Mongolian word "цонх" possibly comes from the Middle Mongolian root "*soŋγu- " meaning "hole".
Myanmar (Burmese)ပြတင်းပေါက်

Window in South East Asian Languages

Indonesianjendela
The word "jendela" in Indonesian is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*zanal" which means "opening", and is cognate with the words "jendela" in Malay and "zana" in Philippine languages
Javanesejendhela
In Javanese, 'jendhela' means 'window', but it can also refer to the gap between teeth or the gap in a fence.
Khmerបង្អួច
The Khmer word "បង្អួច" (window) is derived from the Sanskrit word "Vātapāna," meaning "a place where the wind enters."
Laoປ່ອງຢ້ຽມ
Malaytingkap
The word "tingkap" also means "curtain" in Malay, reflecting the traditional use of textiles to cover window openings.
Thaiหน้าต่าง
The word "หน้าต่าง" also means a face or an appearance, emphasizing the "looking out" function of a window.
Vietnamesecửa sổ
The word "cửa sổ" literally means "door to the view" in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)bintana

Window in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijanipəncərə
"Pəncərə" word in Azerbaijani originally meant "five eyes" (pənc - five, çərə - eye) and referred to the five openings in the wall to let the light in.
Kazakhтерезе
The word "терезе" shares its etymology with the Arabic "دارزة" and can also refer to a hole or opening.
Kyrgyzтерезе
The word "терезе" originates from the Persian word "derize", meaning "hole" or "opening".
Tajikтиреза
"Тиреза" is Persian for "window" and is cognate with the word "дэр" ("door") also in Tajik. Both are derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰwer- ("door").
Turkmenpenjire
Uzbekoyna
The word "oyna" can also refer to a hole or opening in a wall or ceiling, or figuratively to an opportunity or chance.
Uyghurكۆزنەك

Window in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianpukaaniani
"Puka" can mean "hole" or "doorway", and "aniani" refers to the sky or light from above.
Maorimatapihi
The term matapihi, meaning "window", literally translates to "the eyes of the house" in Maori.
Samoanfaʻamalama
The word "faʻamalama" in Samoan comes from "faʻa", meaning "to make" and "malama", meaning "light".
Tagalog (Filipino)bintana
The word

Window in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarawintana
Guaraniovetã

Window in International Languages

Esperantofenestro
The word "fenestro" is derived from the Latin word "fenestra" and the Esperanto suffix "-o", both meaning "window".
Latinfenestram
The word "fenestram" is derived from the root "fenestra," meaning "opening in a wall," and is related to the English word "fence."

Window in Others Languages

Greekπαράθυρο
"Παράθυρο" derives from Ancient Greek "παρά" (by) and "θυρός" (door), implying an opening by the door.
Hmongqhov rais
"Qhov rais" contains the same word root ("rais") as "lub rais" (to open), indicating the connection between windows and openings.
Kurdishpace
Pace originates from the Persian word 'pāy' meaning 'foot'
Turkishpencere
The word "pencere" is derived from the Persian word "panjarah" meaning "lattice" or "screen".
Xhosaiwindow
The Xhosa word "iwindow" is derived from the Afrikaans word "venster," which itself comes from the Dutch word "venster."
Yiddishפענצטער
The Yiddish word פּענצטער (fentsṭer) is derived from the German word Fenster, which itself is derived from the Latin fenestra.
Zuluiwindi
The word "iwindi" in Zulu comes from the Proto-Bantu root "-windo", which means "opening" or "hole".
Assameseখিৰিকী
Aymarawintana
Bhojpuriखिड़की
Dhivehiކުޑަދޮރު
Dogriदुआरी
Filipino (Tagalog)bintana
Guaraniovetã
Ilocanotawa
Kriowinda
Kurdish (Sorani)پەنجەرە
Maithiliखिड़की
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯊꯣꯡꯅꯥꯎ
Mizotukverh
Oromofoddaa
Odia (Oriya)ୱିଣ୍ଡୋ |
Quechuawasi tuqu
Sanskritकोष्ठ
Tatarтәрәзә
Tigrinyaመስኮት
Tsongafasitere

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